Electric switch.



lo. 680,98l. Pat'entodAug. 20, I901.

' M. H.'JOHNSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Appiication am m 21. 100;.

(No Model.)

Q M ELM m: min runs 06. PNOTO-LWHOH wwmmou. nv c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MONTGOMERY II. JOHNSON, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,981, dated August 20, 1901.

Application filed May 27, 1901. Serial No. 62,035. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MONTGOMERY II. J OHN- SON, of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide an electric switch which is simple in its construction and effective and durable in its operation and which obviates objections found to exist in prior similar switches so far as I know and have observed.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a simple form of my switch adapted to control an electrical circuit, the parts being shown with the switch in open position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the electric-circuit terminal or contact-post in connection with other parts of the switch. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View of the hinge-post employed in the construction. Fig. 4 is a plan detail, on an enlarged scale, of the connection between the movable end of the switch-blade and the cross bar or yoke which carries the handle. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the end of the switch-blade. Fig. 6 shows a bolt employed in the construction at the point mentioned. Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of one end of the yoke, which is connected to the switch-blades and carries the handle.

Referring to the reference characters in a more particular description, 1 indicates a base, of insulating material, on which the parts are mounted.

2 2 indicate the hinge-posts, on which one end of the switch-blade is pivoted. The parts 2 are secured to the base 1 in any suitable manner, and one end of the circuit is connected thereto. The part 2 is formed of a single piece of sheet or strip material, and preferably the latter, with the upper end formed into an inverted-U shape, as shown at 2, with an inwardly-turned end or portion 2 adapted to engage against the body portion under a heavy strain of the bolt 3, passing through the same. The switch-blade 4 is secured to and pivotally mounted on the hinge post 2 by the bolt 3, which passes through the parts of the switch-blade t and through the U-shaped portion of the hingepost 2 and binds the parts firmly together, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the elasticity of the U-shaped portion of the support 2 serves to take up or compensate for any wear or looseness in the joint, maintaining a perfect electrical connection, as between the part 2 and the switch-blade 4. The switch-blade 4 is formed of a single piece or band of metal doubled upon itself. The two parts of the bar are arranged to stand somewhat apart, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The two switch-blades 4 (shown in the drawings) are connected by a yoke 5 of insulating material, and the connection or joint between the switch-blades and the yoke 5 is made as follows: A recess opening or slit 6 is made in the doubled end of the switchblade. This recess or notch is preferably made by punching a hole of suitable length and form through the material before the bar is doubled. The yoke 5 is provided with recesses 5 5 on either side adapted to receive in part the remaining portions of the end of the switch-blade on either side of the recess 6, and the depth of the recess 6 is such that the double end will project beyond the side of the yoke. A bolt 7 is then inserted in said projecting end and when tightened securely binds-the parts together. On the yoke 5 is provided the handle 8, by means of which the switch may be manipulated, and any de sired number of switch-blades can be connected to the same yoke 5, the same being increased or decreased in length to accommodate the same. In making the circuit the switch-blades are adapted to engage with the circuit-terminals or contact-posts 9. The post 9 is mounted in a suitable position on the base to engage with the switch-blade and is preferably formed of sheet or band material, enabling it to be very cheaply constructed. The post 9 has a base portion 9*, adapted to rest on the base 1, an upright portion 9*,having acontact point or face at 10, an inverted- U-shaped portion 9, having a contact point or face at 11, and a further upright extension 9 carrying the supplementary-contact point or face 12. The relative arrangement of the contact-faces 10, 11, and 12 is such as to produce the following operation: When the switch is closed, the contact-face 12 under spring-pressure engages with the outside of one of the bar parts of the switch-blade, where the preliminary contact is efiected and the current started. Any burning or searing of contact-surfaces resulting from the making and breaking of the circuit is taken on said outside face of the switch-blade and on said contact-face 12. In closing the switch the part of the switch-blade which engages with the face 12 is moved across the same, and before the contact is'broken, as between the face 12 and the outside of the switch-blade, contacts are established between the inner faces of the parts of the blade and the main contact-faces 10 and 11, which are the main contacts of the circuit. The Width of the switch-blade enables it to simultaneously e11- gage at a certain stage of its movement with the contact-faces 11 and 12.. In opening the switch the final contact is between the contact-surface 12 and the outside of the bar. It is well known that in making and breaking the circuits the troublesome points are the first and last contacts, which are liable to burn and sear the contact-faces and materially injure their ability to establish a perfect electrical connection. The surfaces 10 and 11, engaging with the inner faces of the parts of the switch blade-or bar, are relieved from this tendency to burn or sear. The U-shaped form at 9 of the contact-post provides for a certain amount of spring or elasticity between the parts of the switch-blade which compensates for wear and inaccuracies and serves to maintain a perfect connec tion at this point. blade are also capable of a certain amount of spring, which also tends to accomplish the same purpose. In closing the switch the movement of the blade is stopped or limited by striking the bottom of the recess between parts 9 and 9.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in an electric switch of the blade and a contact-post having the U- shaped spring portion with a main contactface and the projecting arm portion with the The parts of the switch supplementary contact-face, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in an electric switch 0 a switch-blade having two contact-points, a contact-post having the main and supplementary contact-faces adapted to engage the said two contact-points of the blade respectively and successively, the plate being arranged to pass the supplementary contactface in opening and closing, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in an electric switch of the two-part switch-blade and the contact post 9 having the contacts 10 and 11 arranged to engage the inner surfaces of the blade parts and the supplementary contact 12 arranged to engage the outer surface of the switch-blade, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a switch-blade having the doubled end and the recess 6 therein, the yoke received in said recess 6 and the bolt 7 received in the doubled end of said switch-blade and passing the side of said yoke, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in an electric switch of the contact-post'formed of a single piece and having the base portion, the post portion with a contact-face, the U shaped spring portion with a contact-face and the projecting arm portion with a con tact-face, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in an electric switch of the movable switch-blade and a cont'act post formed of a single piece having a base portion and upright-post portion carrying the inverted-U-shaped portion with contact-sur faces on each side and a stop for limiting the closing of the switch-blade, substantially as set forth.

7. A hinged post having a base, an upright portion, an inverted-U-shaped portion and a two-part switch-blade, the parts engaging on either side of said U shaped portion, and a bolt passing through the said parts of the switch-blade and through said U -shaped por tion, combined, substantially as set forth.

In witness "whereof I have affixed my signa-- ture, in presence of two witnesses, this 24th day of May, 1901.

MONTGOMERY H. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:-

E. WILLARD J ONES, S. A. BROWN. 

